Melvin Lewis v. Shipman (St. Charles)

December 8th, 2008

State Tax Commission of Missouri

 

MELVIN E. LEWIS,)

)

Complainant,)

)

v.) Appeal No.08-32508

)

SCOTT SHIPMAN,ASSESSOR,)

ST. CHARLES COUNTY, MISSOURI,)

)

Respondent.)

 

DECISION AND ORDER

 

HOLDING

 

Appeal dismissed for failure of prosecution.Decision of the St. Charles County Board of Equalization AFFIRMED.Complainant did not appear at the evidentiary hearing. Respondent appeared by Assistant County Counselor, Charissa Mayes.Appeal dismissed by Senior Hearing Officer W. B. Tichenor.

ISSUE

The Commission takes this appeal to determine the true value in money for the subject properties on January 1, 2007.

SUMMARY


Complainant appealed, on the ground of overvaluation and discrimination, the decision of the St. Charles County Board of Equalization reducing the value of the subject property.The Assessor set the appraised value at $466,740, assessed value of $88,680, as residential property.The Board reduced the value to $459,000, assessed value of $87,210.Complainant proposed a value of $390,000, assessed value of $74,100 in his Complaint for Review of Assessment.

 

FINDINGS OF FACT

1.Jurisdiction over this appeal is proper.Complainant timely appealed to the State Tax Commission from the decision of the St. Charles County Board of Equalization.


2.The subject property is located at 187 Portmarnock Lane, St. Charles, Missouri.It is identified by map parcel number 3-121B-6315-00-67, Assessor’s Account Number A883003307.

3.By Order issued September 23, 2008, appeal was set for evidentiary hearing at 10:50 a.m., Thursday, November 13, 2008, in the St. Charles County Administration Building, St. Charles, Missouri.Complainant was advised that failure to appear at the evidentiary hearing would result in dismissal for failure to prosecute.Complainant did not appear at the evidentiary hearing.Complainant failed to prosecute his appeal.

CONCLUSIONS OF LAW AND DECISION

Jurisdiction

The Commission has jurisdiction to hear this appeal and correct any assessment which is shown to be unlawful, unfair, arbitrary or capricious.The hearing officer shall issue a decision and order affirming, modifying or reversing the determination of the board of equalization, and correcting any assessment which is unlawful, unfair, improper, arbitrary, or capricious.[1]

Presumptions In Appeals

There is a presumption of validity, good faith and correctness of assessment by the CountyBoardof Equalization.[2]The presumption of correct assessment is rebutted when the taxpayer presents substantial and persuasive evidence to establish that the Board’s valuation is erroneous and what the fair market value should have been placed on the property.[3]

 

Dismissal of Appeal

A Hearing Officer on his own motion may dismiss an appeal for failure of prosecution.[4] Appeal is dismissed for failure of prosecution.

ORDER

The assessed valuation for the subject property as determined by the Board of Equalization for St. Charles County for the subject tax day is AFFIRMED.

The assessed value for the subject property for tax year 2008 is set at $87,210.

Complainant may file with the Commission an application for review of this decision within thirty days of the mailing date set forth in the Certificate of Service.The application shall contain specific grounds upon which it is claimed the decision is erroneous.Said application must be in writing addressed to the State Tax Commission of Missouri, P.O. Box 146, Jefferson City, MO65102-0146, and a copy of said application must be sent to each person at the address listed below in the certificate of service.

Failure to state specific facts or law upon which the appeal is based will result in summary denial. [5]

The Collector of St. Charles County, as well as the collectors of all affected political subdivisions therein, shall continue to hold the disputed taxes pending a filing of an Application for Review, unless said taxes have been disbursed pursuant to a court order under the provisions of Section 139.031.8, RSMo.

Any Finding of Fact which is a Conclusion of Law or Decision shall be so deemed.Any Decision which is a Finding of Fact or Conclusion of Law shall be so deemed.

SO ORDERED December 8, 2008.


STATE TAX COMMISSION OFMISSOURI

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W. B. Tichenor

Senior Hearing Officer

 

 

 

 

Certificate of Service

 

I hereby certify that a copy of the foregoing has been mailed postage prepaid on this 8thday of December, 2008, to:Melvin Lewis, 187 Portmarnock, St. Charles, MO 63304, Complainant; Charissa Mayes, Assistant County Counselor, 100 North Third Street, Room 216, St. Charles, MO 63301, Attorney for Respondent; Scott Shipman, Assessor, 201 North Second, Room 247, St. Charles, MO 63301-2870; Amy Gann, Registrar, 100 North Third Street, Suite 206, St. Charles, MO 63301; Michelle McBride, Collector, 201 North Second Street, Room 134, St. Charles, MO 63301.

 

 

 

___________________________

Barbara Heller

Legal Coordinator

 

 

 


[1] Article X, section 14, Mo. Const. of 1945; Sections 138.430, 138.431, 138.431.4, RSMo.

 

[2] Hermel, Inc. v. STC, 564 S.W.2d 888, 895 (Mo. banc 1978); Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Co. v. STC, 436 S.W.2d 650, 656 (Mo. 1968); May Department Stores Co. v. STC, 308 S.W.2d 748, 759 (Mo. 1958).

 

[3] Hermel, supra; Cupples-Hesse Corporation v. State Tax Commission, 329 S.W.2d 696, 702 (Mo. 1959).

 

[4] 12 CSR 30-3.050 (3) (D)

 

[5] Section 138.432, RSMo.